Electric signal apparatus



(No Model.)

F. W. COLE. ELEGTRIG SIGNAL APPARATUS.

No. 592,962. Patented Nov. 2,1897.

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' FREDERICK W. ooLE, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 592,962, dated November 2, 1897- Application filed March 10, 1896. Serial No. 582,529. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I FREDERICK W. OoLE, of Newton, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Electric Signal Apparatus, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters and figures-on the drawings representing like parts.

In electric signaling apparatussuch, for instance, as in police-code-signal systems signal transmitting and receiving devices and telephones are employed whereby code-signals and telephonic messages are transmitted and received, and in many cases both kinds or classes of apparatus are included in or adapted -to be connected in a single circuit. In such cases when the telephones are in circuitas, for instance, When they are being useda large resistance is introduced into the circuit which very materially diminishes the normal strength of the current, and during such time the circuit is more or less impaired for other uses-as, for instance, for the transmission of code-signals. In view of the fact that the code-signals should always take precedence over telephonic communications, owing to their importance, it is the object of this invention to provide means whereby the telephones will be temporarily removed from the circuit while a code-signal is being transmitted if any telephone should be operatively connected with the circuit at such time. The means employed for thus removing the telephones consists of a switch adapted to be operated by a change in the normal condition of the circuit, and said switch may shunt the telephone or otherwise remove or exclude it from the circuit, and thereby remove the resistance which was interposed by its introduction. This switch may be operated in divers ways-as, for instance, by a polarized magnet susceptible to changes of polarity of the circuit, and such changes may be produced by a pole-changing device or batteryreversing instrument which may be operated by devices set in operation or controlled by any one of the code-signal transmitters.

Figure 1 shows in diagram an electric circuit having signal transmitting and receiving devices and telephones, switches for removing or excluding the telephones, and means for operating said switches controlled by the code-signal transmitters; and Fig. 2, a modification showing a cut-out switch at the transmitting-station.

A represents an electric circuit connecting several signal-boxes B with a central receiving-station C. At each code-signal boX in the circuit a signal-transmitter is provided which may be of any well-known or suitable construction, being herein represented by the circuit-wheel a and contact-pen b, and at the receiving-station a signal-receiving instrument is connected in or with the circuit, which may also be of any well-known or suitable'construction, it being herein represented by a register 0, adapted to record the signal on a moving strip of paper. Also, contained in each signal-box and connected with the circuit is a telephone (1, which may be of any wellknown or suitable construction, and while it is herein represented as an ordinary handtelephone any other form or construction, of

telephonic apparatus may be employed, and said apparatus may and preferably will be provided with the usual switches, whereby it is normally removed from the line. At the central oflice a similar telephone e or telephonic apparatus will be employed.

In order that the telephones may be automatically switched out of circuit or disconnected or removed in such manner as to remove the resistance to the line due to their introduction into the circuit, automatic switches are provided which are designed to shunt or cut out said telephones. In Fig. 1 such switches are constructed and arranged to shunt out the telephones, being represented at f as a pivoted switch-arm movable toward and from a contact f. The contact f is connected by wire 2 with the line, and the switcharm f is also connected with the line, so that when said parts are in engagement the telephone will be shunted out. The switch-arm f is designed to be operated by anelec'tromagnet included in the circuit and responsive to changes therein or to changes in the condition thereof. Herein the operating-magnet of the switch-arm is represented as a polarized magnet g, to the armature g of which the switcharm fis connected, and with such an operating device for the switch-arm it will be moved upon changes of polarity of the circuit. At the central station a pole-changing device n, which may be of any well-known or suitable construction, is provided and which when operated reverses the polarity of the circuit. As a means of operating said pole-changer I have herein represented a lever n, pivoted at M, one arm of which is connected with the movable membersof the pole-changing device and the other arm of which bears upon a cam-wheel n on the signal-recorder c. The pole-changer is thus operatively connected with the signal-recorder in such manner as to be operated byit, but so far as my invention is concerned I do not desire to limit it to the construction shown, or, in fact, to any particular construction of connecting mechanism whereby the pole-changing device is operated directly or indirectly by the signal-recorder. In operation it will be observed that if a code-signal should be transmitted while the telephones or any number of them are included in the circuit, which may be done in the well-known or usual way and not herein shown, the moment that the signal-recorder starts to record said signal the pole-changing device will be operated and the polarity of the circuit reversed and said telephones automatically shunted out, being, however, automatically reintroduced as soon as the signalrecorder comes to rest and the pole-changing device restored to its normal condition.

Referring to Fig. 2 of the drawings, the automatic switch is designed to cut out or disconnect the telephone from the circuit instead of shunting it, as shown in Fig. 1, the only diiterence being in the circuit connections. At the central station the telephone e-will also be automatically shunted or cut out, and in accomplishing this result instead of employing the automatic switch operated by the polarized magnet, as herein represented, at the boxes the lever 91 may strike a contact 10 when released, which is connected by a wire 12 to the circuit at one side of the telephone, and a wire 13 may connect said lever n with the other side of said telephone, and thereby form a circuit around said telephone 6.

I claim- 1. The combination with an electric circuit, code-signal and telephonic transmitters therein, for sending two different classes of signals over said circuit, viz: code-signals and telephonic messages, code signal and telephonic receivers responsive respectively to said transmitters, and automatic switches for said telephonic transmitters operated by any one of said code-signal transmitters in the circuit, substantially as described.

2. The combination with an electric circuit, code-signal and telephonic transmitters therein, for sending two dili'erent classes of signals over said circuit, viz: code-signals and telephonic messages, code-signal and telephonic receivers responsive respectively to said transmitters, and automatic switches for excluding said telephone-transmitters, and a device set in operation by any one of said code-signal transmitters for operating said switches, substantially as described.

3. The combination with an electric circuit, code-signal and telephonic transmitters therein for sending two different classes of signals over said circuit, viz: code-signals and telephonic messages, code-signal and telephonic receivers responsive respectively to said transmitters, and switches for excluding said telephonic transmitters, polarized electromagnets for operating them, a pole-changing device connected with the circuit, and means operated by the code-signal receiver for operating said pole-changing device to thereby automatically exclude the telephonic transmitters While said code-signal receiver is operating, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK W. COLE.

YVitncsses:

B. J. Novns, F. ll. DAVIS. 

